Six-hour Marathon of Entertainment to raise money for Alzheimer's research

June 12, 2014

Updated 12:00 a.m.

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The Village Midiots, Laguna Woods Village’s only all-resident rock band, will perform at the Sunshine Marathon of Entertainment June 21 to benefit Alzheimer’s Association Orange County. From left: Bill Farinacci, Will Hagle, Mark Hochberg, Linda Nearing, David Dearing and David Anderman.
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NICK AGRO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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TheVillage Midiots were members of a group of friends who met each evening at Pool 4. From left Bill Farinacci, Will Hagle, Mark Hochberg, Linda Nearing, David Dearing and David Anderman.
NICK AGRO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Linda Nearing, a percussionist of the Village Midiots, laughs with band mate. The band is made up of Laguna Woods residents who will perform at the Sunshine Marathon of Entertainment, to benefit research for Alzheimer's disease.
, NICK AGRO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Mission Viejo JewelTones will showcase their four-part harmony at the Marathon of Entertainment benefiting Alzheimer's Association, June 21 at Clubhouse Three. From left: Denise Clifford, Shirlene Hays, Teri Hutchison and Pamela McCombs. They are all members of the Mission Viejo Sweet Adeline's Chorus.
PICASA
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PICASA COURTESY PHOTO

The Village Midiots, Laguna Woods Village’s only all-resident rock band, will perform at the Sunshine Marathon of Entertainment June 21 to benefit Alzheimer’s Association Orange County. From left: Bill Farinacci, Will Hagle, Mark Hochberg, Linda Nearing, David Dearing and David Anderman.
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NICK AGRO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Marathon of Entertainment

What: Benefit for Alzheimer's Association

When: 3-9 p.m. Saturday, June 21

Where: Clubhouse Three Main Stage

Cost: Free (donations to Alzheimer's Association gratefully accepted)

"Reminder Tickets" are available in the Clubhouse Three lobby daily through June 21

LAGUNA WOODS – More than 80 talented acts will come together on the Clubhouse Three stage June 21 to perform in a Marathon of Entertainment.

Presented by the Sunshine Performance Club, the free event coincides with Alzheimer’s Association’s “The Longest Day,” a worldwide drive to honor and support Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.

“The Longest Day” is held each year on the summer solstice. Participants are asked to raise $100 per hour of activity to fuel the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. All proceeds from the Marathon of Entertainment will be donated to Alzheimer’s Association Orange County.

Producer/director and stage veteran Teri “Sunshine” Lutey called the assembly of comedians, actors, singers and dancers assembled for six hours of continuous entertainment a “colossal undertaking.” The Globe sat down with her to find out more about this first-of-its-kind community event.

Q: You’ve produced many performances in the Village over the years. Have you undertaken a marathon before?

A: No. The closest thing to it is the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast we do every year. That’s a three-hour continuous thing. However, that is very impromptu; if we have gaps nobody really gives a darn. In this show, everybody would give a darn!

Q: Where did you get the idea to do a marathon?

A: Two people came to me – our guitarist Phil Silverman, and TV-6 personality Tony Barr – and said, “Wouldn’t it be really cool to have a telethon?” When we were checking it out, it just didn’t make sense, but I said, “What we will have instead is a marathon.” I contacted Alzheimer’s Association, and they said the date I had chosen for the show, June 21, is a “national holiday” for them. It’s called The Longest Day. On that day they encourage teams of people to do a wonderful thing, to try to raise funds for the caregivers and people with the disease. The second I heard that I said, “We need to do this fundraiser for Alzheimer’s.”

Q: Will you be taking any cues from that most famous of marathoners, Jerry Lewis?

A: The second I said the word “marathon” Jerry Lewis came to mind. You know what? I don’t have room to announce all the 81 acts on the program. It will be a surprise to the audience. Nobody will know what’s coming next, and that’s part of the fun.

Q: Without giving away too much, can you give our readers a taste of the talent you have assembled?

A: There will be a wide range of musical selections, dance, drama, comedy, plus a number of surprise acts. We’ll have belly dancers, tap dancers, Chinese and Korean dance teams, instrumentalists, a barbershop-style chorus. Joey Simms, president of the Komedy Klub, is going to do a 10-minute act. The Village Midiots, Laguna Woods Village’s only all-resident rock band, also will perform. They will be the opening band again this year for the Baby Boomers Club’s Woodstock Festival in July.

Q: Are all the acts volunteering their time?

A: Everyone is contributing their time, even the Village Midiots. All these groups charge for performances, and they are giving that as a gift. And it’s very much appreciated.

Q: How did you find acts for the show?

A: We are doing the marathon with the idea in mind that it would be a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for Alzheimer’s; it would be a wonderful way to provide lots of entertainment for the community, and a way to get the community involved in being part of the show. One of the ways we did that was we had auditions. Another way was that there are a lot of groups that are well-known in our Village. I sent emails to all the ones I could think of. I had other people who contacted groups and asked if they would be willing. The ones who couldn’t come to the auditions, I went to see them.

Q: How much do you hope to take in for the Alzheimer’s Association?

A: It’s all going to depend on what people donate. Our expenses are covered, so all donations will be going directly to Alzheimer’s Association Orange County.

Q: Will the marathon be an annual event?

A: We hope so. And, because I’m starting in plenty of time for next year, I’ve already gotten approval for a second dining room for our sponsors. Next year, it might be an all-day thing.

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